Mismatches like UCLA 87, UCSB 50 and Maryland 87, Maryland-Baltimore County 50 make me wish I’d waited for conference play, but UCLA 73, Oklahoma 59 on Monday makes November watchable (and man, I’m disappointed about missing USC 69, NC State 68 due to spoilage).
God help me, I’m allegiant to TWO Los Angeles sports teams. When Gianna Kneepkens entered the transfer portal, I committed myself to whichever team she joined. Honest, I’m OK with her going to UCLA — the Bruins are a Pac-12 all-star team, and Coach Close is the best sideline interview in the NCAA.
With practice, any sports personality can cultivate a working knowledge of LaLooshspeak, making them passable press conference subjects. Sideline talks are a different environment — the post-game presser is an obligation (as legendary UC Davis coach Sandy Simpson called it) that a coach can mushmouth, but when the sideline microphone is in their face, they say the first polite words that comes to mind so they can get back to work. UCLA coach Close goes so far beyond the minimum required in those cases, providing genuine insight into UCLA’s thinking with humor.
Because Close is so much fun to watch during timeout, I hope the Bruins are on TV 40 times this season — which would require a Final Four trip, surely.
UCLA’s first field goal Monday evening was a 15-footer from post Lauren Betts. I saw that as I see it when the streaky distance shooter drops the first 3-point attempt: The other team is in for a long 40 minutes.
UCLA surrounded the 6-foot-7 national defensive player of the year with finishers. If Betts enhances their midrange game to boot? There’s a team with outstanding potential for 40 minutes or for six months. (Betts’ seven turnovers dampened one’s enthusiasm for this theory, but she contributed the typical 9 defensive rebounds plus 4 blocks.)